§ Mr. David Priceasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a progress report about all development trials to prove techniques for commercial fish farming sponsored or assisted by his Department; and, as a result of these trials, which type of fish are proving suitable for fish farming under United Kingdom conditions.
§ Mr. BishopI would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Shrewsbury (Sir J. Langford-Holt) on 31st March.—[Vol. 929, c. 257.] The hon. Member may also be interested to see a recently published report on fish farming research and development published by the Ministry. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. David Priceasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under what conditions new commercial fish farming ventures would be eligible for European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund grants under the common agricultural and fisheries policy of the EEC.
§ Mr. BishopCommercial fish farming ventures may be considered for capital grant from the Guidance Section of the EAGGF towards the cost of providing physical assets—i.e., buildings and equipment—under Regulation 17/64 for production projects, or Regulation 355/77 for marketing and processing projects. The main provisions are that (a) projects do not come within the scope of any other community-wide measure—(e.g., the farm modernisation directive, 72/159/EEC)—(b) that the member State makes a financial contribution towards the cost of the 333W project, and (c) that work above ground has not started, nor plant or machinery-been installed, before receipt of the application by the EEC Commission.